Delhi needed to win almost all of their remaining home matches if they were to have any chance of qualifying for the play-offs. But Bangalore proved too hard to beat, who in the process moved up to the second place on the points table. Daniel Vettori won the toss and batted first.
Explosive opening pair of Sehwag and Warner could only muster 33 for the first wicket, as Zaheer Khan cleaned up the former with a beauty. James Hopes was promoted to number three, but had to watch his captain depart through a crucial run out for just 25. Hopes kept his team’s hopes alive by playing sensibly, as wickets fell regularly from the other end.
Only Venugopal Rao sparkled for while as Vettori accounted for him after he was looking dangerous having scored 24 off 21 balls with 2 fours and a six. Naman Ojha hit a six each off Vettori and Zaheer, as hopes completed his 50 at the other end. Mithun took the prized scalp of Hopes who was caught behind for a fine 52 (43b 7x4). Irfan Pathan’s two late strikes enabled Delhi to post a challenging total of 160 for 6.
Dilshan skied second ball from Ashok Dinda to depart for zero, but Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli put on a quick partnership of 83 runs in just over 7 overs. Kohli was in devastating mood, as after hitting Dinda for back-to-back boundaries, he punished Irfan Pathan with four fours in his over. Gayle announced himself by putting Morkel over long-on. He then took on Dinda with two sumptuous fours sandwiched by a stunning six from Kohli.
Hopes was the man who brought his team back into reckoning once again by getting Gayle out 26 (14b, 4x4, 1x6) who miscued a pull. Delhi were soon celebrating again when AB de Villiers was run out by Warner’s stunning direct-hit from deep. They were well and truly back, when Morkel disturbed Kohli’s stumps leaving Bangalore 96 for 4 in the 10th over. His brilliant 56 came off just 38 balls and included 8 fours and 2 sixes.
The contest had become absorbing as Delhi got 3 more scalps reducing Royal Challengers requiring 22 runs from 3 overs with 3 wickets in hand. Syed Mohammad hit two fours in the 18th over, and with the calm presence of Vettori carried his team home with 3 balls to spare. Bangalore held their nerves better than Delhi in a tense chase, which at one stage could have gone either way.
Royal Challengers Bangalore 161/7 (Kohli 56, Morkel 3/25) beat Delhi Daredevils 160/6 (Hopes 54, Mithun 2/37) by 3 wickets
Man of the match: V Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalo
Published in SportPulse.net
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